KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 — The government is providing an additional allocation for the procurement of SGLT2 inhibitors under Budget 2025 to treat diabetes, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced today.
SGLT2 inhibitors, a relatively new class of drugs, eventually reduces the need for insulin as it enables the kidneys to remove sugar from the body through urine.
The drug is also used in people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure to lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure flare-ups; some of these inhibitors aid in slowing the progression of kidney disease.
Anwar also announced that the excise duty rate for sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) would be increased in phases from January 1, 2025, by 40 sen per litre.
“Our obesity and diabetes rates are too high,” said Anwar, who is also finance minister, when tabling Budget 2025 in Parliament.
“Hence, we need to support measures in the war on sugar.”
Anwar said the extra revenue from the SSB tax hike would be used for public health expenditure, including the additional procurement of SGLT2 inhibitors and the expansion of peritoneal dialysis services for patients with kidney failure.
The government has also allocated RM27 million for the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) Agenda Nasional Malaysia Sihat to increase sports and leisure activities, including Hari Sukan Negara.
